Is anyone scared of dying?

[Someone1987]

Are you scared of dying?
What do you think happens when you die?

No, I'm not.

To my mind, if you have a strong faith, then there is nothing to fear from death, and there are those - I think most of the big world faiths - who would argue that the afterlife is better than our life on earth.

If you do not have a faith, then the science will tell you that your heart and brain stop working, so you won't actually register that you are dead. You just cease to be.

Don't get me wrong, I'm in no rush to leave this mortal coil just yet - I'd be devastated to leave my dc before (potential) graduations, wedding, maybe grandchildren and other adult achievements, but, from my own personal feelings, for me, I'm not scared.

Not really (and I'm going to, in the next year, maybe sooner). I'm scared of the pain though, and desperately sad for my husband and children. And mum, and my brother. And my friends.

I'm not sure about what happens after you die. I imagine it's just like before you're born: no consciousness. I hope it's true that the brain fires off beautiful images though- I'd love to see myself running towards my dad as he rounded the street corner coming home from work, like when I was a little girl.

Obviously no-one wants to die, prematurely at least.

I like to think that there really isn't anything to be afraid of because I think being dead is the same as not yet being born....and that wasn't scary 😊

I’m not scared of dying as such but I am scared of dying and leaving my two young kids.

@BitOfFun 🤗 xx

@BitOfFun Sending love your way. You are very brave x

It looks like I killed the thread, sorry! Do keep going...

💐 bitoffun

I'm not scared of dying but am scared of being in pain and out of control. My mum died suddenly a couple of years ago and I still wonder what it was like for her at the end, she was in a home and was alone.

Petrified of dying. Petrified about leaving my son behind Before he’s 25. Have terrible health anxiety around it. 😞

Nope
Almost died (massive placental abruption) with my DD dead in uteri.
I lay there and waited calmly for death.
I have a DH and living DD (seriously disabled) and I wouldn’t want to leave them.
But.. death itself. Be not afraid

I have a major death phobia.
I'm scared of dying and death itself and also terrified of leaving my husband and children.
I have terrible health anxiety due to it.

If i think to much about death it scares me.
I think its the not being able to comprehend nothingness.

I'm living with incurable cancer, I'm not really scared of dying. I've met a few ladies this last year in my situation who have died peacefully at home and this has reassured me.
I'm a single parent to 10 year old DS, and while the thought of him missing me is very sad, I know that he is resilient, and by having a plan in place, I don't feel that it is something I need to be afraid of.

When you have to deal with it, you have to deal with it. I hope you've got a while yet .

Right back at you!

Yes hoping for a while yet - treatment is working well for now, so just enjoying each day and taking nothing for granted 😊

I think I was much more scared of death before I became terminally ill. Don't get me wrong it's shit, just not as frightening as I'd imagined it would be ❤️

No. Plan in place.
No point in wasting energy on it, otherwise I'd never get out of bed (and etc.)

That said, there are certain kinds of death I am scared of...

1. shark attack
2. drowning

I live in the mountains. I've cut my odds considerably.

Doreen, I wanted to say something that would convey how comforting (selfishly) that your post is. I'm lost for words though, as I have no terms of reference for how things are for you, I couldn't presume to know.

I've seen very many people die, pain or intractable nausea is what I fear far more than the departure itself.

What I do know is that after death the body is a shell, the light is gone. None of us have any control over what happens then, we'd be as well worrying about controlling the weather or the outcome of a toss of a coin.

Hey, BoF Good to see ya.

@BitofFun absolutely agree about the question of consciousness, what we control and what we will even know of what happens.
Much of my own thoughts around death are concerns for those left behind, none of us have any power to influence that I suppose.
You mentioned pain, I'm sure I'm going over what your medical team have said before, but if pain is likely it might be an idea to talk about management strategies sooner rather than later, so your wishes are known.
I know from experience (non malignant) that being able to articulate my wishes was near impossible when in significant pain, hopefully if you have the discussion early it would help.
All the very best x

I'm not scared as I believe it heaven and I'll be reunited with family on the other side but I don't want to die and leave my husband and my boys

Thanks @LadyDoc1 - I'm starting to realise I need to make concrete plans sooner rather than later. I was taken into hospital recently with hypercalcaemia and couldn't communicate at all (I barely remember much of it, to be honest). My husband couldn't accompany me due to COVID-19, and it was a pretty horrific experience.

Hi Fauve

Sorry to hear about your admission, the current situation has added so many additional concerns about healthcare and what to expect, it feels like it changes all the time.
I finalised my will recently and added a living will part which I found quite reassuring.
I'm single so only have myself to think about (my son will have his father, he's a good man at heart although we have our differences) I imagine that thinking about a partner would add extra complexity.
I used a 'ceiling of care' model to define limits, I know that adding info about measures for comfort (like fluids, mouth care, painkillers and sedatives) has been helpful for people, it has been for me.

I will look "ceiling of care" up, thank you.

I'm not afraid of dying. There are far worse things than dying.